There the dragons had landed before Elliania’s mothershouse. I gathered that there had been some structural damage in the process, but nonetheless the immense Icefyre had forced his way into the mothershouse, where he ungraciously placed his head, very briefly, upon the hearthstones, so that Dutiful’s promise to Elliania might be completely carried out.
I thought that Elliania had professed herself satisfied that Dutiful had fulfilled his promise and proven himself worthy of her when he aided in the rescue of her mother and sister. I was a bit confused as to why all this had been necessary.
Oh, she has shown herself well satisfied, for some days now, Chade replied acidly, and I suspected that perhaps Dutiful’s virtue had not been proof against the girl’s importuning. It is her mother who has proven difficult, much to Peottre’s woe. Oerttre told us, before we were even docked in Zylig, that she did not regard any agreement that men had brokered concerning her daughter as binding. She finds it unthinkable that Elliania would leave her home, even to be Queen of all the Six Duchies. She has raised a thousand faults with the arrangement, saying that as she herself was still alive and therefore the true Narcheska, all of this was agreed to without the proper consent. She objects to the idea of Lestra inheriting the title of Narcheska; she finds the girl unfit to rule after her. And she is horrified at the thought that Elliania’s and Dutiful’s children would remain in the Six Duchies.
Except for our sons, Dutiful interjected.
True, Chade conceded. She had been more than willing to allow Dutiful and Elliania to, that is, to become, to have – He could not find a delicate way to verbalize the thought.
Dutiful was more prosaic. Her mother was willing to allow me to share Elliania’s bed. She seemed affronted that anyone might think to thwart her daughter in who she wishes to bed. And the Narcheska Oerttre had offered that any male children so conceived would be given to the Six Duchies. At the age of seven.
There was a mutual silence as they allowed me to digest that idea. It was untenable. None of his dukes would accept an heir thus created.
And now? Now that Icefyre has fulfilled completely Elliania’s challenge to Dutiful?
Narcheska Oerttre was impressed. It is hard not to be impressed when a creature of that size lumbers through your home and places his head on your hearthstones. Especially when some of the framework of your door is still around his neck. I could easily excuse Dutiful’s youthful satisfaction at this vindication. I think her objections are at an end. And even if she still has reservations, there were enough members of the Hetgurd here to witness it that they will not stand. They now see it as honour that Elliania will come to my hearth. To ‘found a new mothershouse’ is how they phrase it.
As if she were conquering all the Six Duchies by becoming Dutiful’s Queen, Chade complained. Yet I could hear the relief in his voice. I foresaw there would be difficulties in future days, as the customs of her land clashed with ours. If she bore a son first, would her relatives be scandalized to see him inherit before her daughters? I set the thought from my mind. There would be enough time to worry about that when it happened.
And how was that brought about?
Ask Thick. He and Nettle seem to have concocted that.
The smile faded from my face. I had to know. Does Nettle know about Burrich’s death?
Yes. Chade’s reply was short and grim.
I would not wish such news to be withheld from me, Dutiful pointed out severely. I knew he was justifying his action to Chade as much as to me. And so I did as I thought best. Besides, my mother deserved that news as well, that she can see to the needs of the family of the man who served us so well and so long. Besides. When I stand before my cousin in the flesh, I do not wish to do so with a bag of dirty secrets behind my back.
That seemed harsh and I sensed that I trod on the edges of a quarrel between Dutiful and Chade. It did not seem a good time to advance my own opinion. Moreover, it was too late to change what had been done. So I tried to change the subject instead. So. The wedding will now proceed with no further objections.
Now it can. Dutiful had insisted we remain here until we heard from you. Or until we decided you were dead, and sent a rescue party back for Thick. Not that he was fond of the idea of being rescued and brought home. But now that you are there, we shall send a boat for both of you immediately. As soon as you arrive here, we can proceed home.
No boats! Thick insisted.
The Prince ignored him. Our wait for Fitz has not been wasted time, Dutiful contradicted Chade. It would not have been appropriate to immediately snatch the Narcheska from her family. Elliania has been too long separated from her mother and sister. I have enjoyed seeing them together. And when she looks from her sister to me … Fitz, she thinks I am a hero. The Outislander bards are making songs of this.
Very long songs, Chade added. We’ve had to listen to them, smiling, nearly every night.
We simmered into satisfied silence. My prince had won his bride. There would be peace between the Six Duchies and the Out Islands. Then Dutiful added solemnly, And I was glad that you were allowed some time to deal with your loss. I am sorry, Fitz.
Chade asked quietly, You were able to recover the Fool’s body?
It was my moment for triumph. I recovered the Fool.
I thought he was dead! Dutiful’s gravity dissolved in amazement.
So did I, I replied, and abruptly decided to leave that as my full explanation. It was easy enough to divert them from any more questions regarding the Fool. I simply added, I am sorry to have missed the ship you sent for us. But you need not bother with another. Thick and I have an easier way back to Buckkeep. One that does not require him to set foot on a deck again.
Their astonishment at my revelation of the working Skill-pillar could not match Thick’s delight at the news he could go home without sailing. He suddenly clutched me about the middle, tugged me to my feet and capered so wildly about me that I could not hold the focus necessary to Skill. I seized him by his shoulders and braced my feet to stop our dance, and then looked up to find the Black Man regarding us with alarmed amusement. The Fool looked too tired to show any surprise.
‘He just realized that we could go home through the Skill-pillars,’ I explained to them. ‘Thick hates boats. And he is delighted to know that our journey may be a matter of moments instead of days.’
The Black Man looked at me without comprehension. Then the Fool said something to him in his own tongue, and the man made a long ‘aaaah’ of understanding and nodded sagely. The Fool’s explanation seemed to bring to his mind some other incident, for the Black Man launched into a long monologue intended for the Fool.